Case for receiving portable storage peripheral equipment

ABSTRACT

A case ( 1 ) is provided for receiving a portable storage peripheral equipment which generally accomplishes signal transmission with a computer. The case includes a case body consisting of a top cover ( 10 ) and a bottom cover ( 20 ). The case body defines a receiving space ( 60 ) for receiving the portable storage peripheral equipment. Each of the top cover and the bottom cover has a pair of baffle ( 22 ) parallel to corresponding sidewalls ( 14 ) thereof. An arm ( 28 ) extends upwardly from each baffle of the bottom cover. The baffle of the top cover defines a gap ( 224 ) nicely receiving the arm. The arm has an engaging portion ( 282 ) at a free end thereof and extending into the receiving space for elastically interfering with outer sidewalls of the portable storage peripheral equipment. The portable storage peripheral equipment is thus reliably and accurately retained in the case.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This patent application is related to a co-pending application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/169,745, filed Oct. 24, 2002, Centitled “CASE FOR PORTABLE STORAGE PERIPHERAL”, and other contemporaneously filed applications entitled “CASE FOR PORTABLE STORAGE PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT”, entitled “CASE FOR PORTABLE STORAGE PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT HAVING CABEL ASSEMBLY WITH STRAIN RELIEF”, and entitled “CASE FOR PORTABLE STORAGE PERIPHERAL EQUIPEMNT HAVING IMPROVED SHIELDING EFFECT ”, all invented by the same inventor, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a case for portable storage peripheral equipment, and particularly to a case accurately receiving a portable storage peripheral equipment of a notebook computer.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Following the popularity of the data processing machines, i.e., computers, or serves, information processing with the machine, is increased enormously. Generally, the information is stored in an internal store equipment, such as a hard disk, a floppy disk or a compact disc of the computer. However, such internal store type is not satisfied with requirements of the development that the computer becomes portable and low profile. The external portable storage peripheral equipment is developed and becomes more and more popular.

[0006] Generally, the external portable storage peripheral equipment is received in a case. A printed circuit board module (PCB module) is provided in the case with a device connector mounted on the PCB module. The device connector mates with an electrical connector mounted to a front portion of the external portable storage peripheral equipment. The case further comprises a cable assembly electrically connecting with the PCB module and extending outside of the case for mating with a device connector mounted on a mother board of a notebook computer for providing signal transmission. Understandably, the external portable storage peripheral equipment must be accurately and reliably positioned in the case for assuring the mating condition between the electrical connector of the external portable storage peripheral equipment and the device connector of the PCB module.

[0007] The case generally defines a pair of sidewalls together forming a receiving space for retaining the external portable storage peripheral equipment therein. The pair of sidewalls engages with two sidewalls of the external portable storage peripheral equipment for providing a retention therebetween. In order to assemble the external portable storage peripheral equipment in the receiving space easily, a certain distance between the sidewall of the case and the corresponding sidewall of the portable storage peripheral equipment is defined. However, the distance may affect the mating quality of the device connector of the PCB module and the electrical connector of the external portable storage peripheral equipment in the case. The signal transmission, therefore, would be affected.

[0008] Hence, a case for portable storage peripheral equipment is required to overcome the disadvantages of the related art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a case which can retain a portable storage peripheral equipment reliably and accurately.

[0010] In order to achieve the object set forth, a case in accordance with the present invention includes a case body consisting of a top cover and a bottom cover. The case body defines a receiving space for receiving a portable storage peripheral equipment. Each of the top cover and the bottom cover has a pair of baffle respectively parallel to corresponding sidewalls thereof. An arm extends upwardly from each baffle of the bottom cover. The arm has an engaging portion at a free end thereof and extending into the receiving space for elastically engaging with the outer sidewalls of the portable storage peripheral equipment. The portable storage peripheral equipment is thus reliably and accurately retained in the case and accomplishes signal transmission with a computer.

[0011] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of a case for portable storage peripheral equipment in accordance with the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the case for portable storage peripheral equipment of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a top cover of the case for portable storage peripheral equipment of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a bottom cover of the case for portable storage peripheral equipment of FIG. 1; and

[0016]FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a circled portion of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a case 1 for portable storage peripheral equipment in accordance with the present invention is generally rectangular in shape. The case 1 comprises a case body consisting of a top cover 10 and a bottom cover 20, a cable assembly 30, a printed circuit board module 40 (PCB module), and a shielding 50. The top cover 10 and the bottom cover 20 are assembled together and a receiving space 60 is thus defined therebetween. The PCB module 40 and the shielding 50 are assembled in the receiving space 60. A corresponding portable storage peripheral equipment (not shown), i.e. a portable hard disk, a floppy disk or a compact disc, is accommodated in the receiving space 60 for providing a signal transmission with a notebook computer by the PCB module 40 and the cable assembly 30.

[0018] Also referring to FIGS. 2-4, the top cover 10 has a similar configuration with the bottom cover 20 and opposite to the top cover 10. Each cove 10, 20 has a flat board 12, a pair of sidewalls 14 respectively extending curvely and outwardly from the flat board 12, and a front wall 16 extending from a front side of the flat board 12. One sidewall 14 has a transitional part 140 adjacent to the front wall 16. The transitional part 140 deflects towards a center of the flat board 12 relative to the other part of the sidewall 14 and a recess 120 is thus defined beyond the transitional part 140. A pair of cushions 18 is respectively attached on bottom surfaces of the recesses 120 of the top cover 10 and the bottom cover 20. Each front wall 16 defines a hemicycle orifice 160 adjacent to the recess 120.

[0019] Each sidewall 14 of the covers 10, 20 defines a groove 142 therein. A plurality of arcuate ribs 144 protrudes equably into the corresponding groove 142. Each flat board 12 of the top cover 10 and the bottom cover 20 protrudes a pair of baffles 22 parallel to the sidewall 14 thereof. Each baffle 22 has a guiding portion 220 at the end thereof and inclining towards a corresponding sidewall 14. The baffle 22 of the top cover 10 defines a gap 224 between the guiding portion 220 and the baffle 22. Each baffle 22 of the bottom cover 20 has an arm 28 extending upwardly therefrom and corresponding to the gap 224 of the top cover 10. As best shown in FIG. 5, each arm 28 includes a connection portion 281 integrally connecting with the baffle 22 and having a same height as that of the baffle 22 and an engaging portion 282 at a free end of the arm 28 and connecting with the connection portion 281. A first slit 280 is defined between the arm 28 and the guiding portion 220 and a second slit 280 is defined between the baffle 22 and the arm 28. The engaging portion 282 projects a projection 284 protruding into the receiving space 60. The engaging portion 282 is snugly received in the gap 224 of the baffle 22 of the top cover 10 when the top cover 10 and the bottom cover 20 are assembled together which will be described hereinafter.

[0020] It should be noted in an alternative embodiment the arm 28 may be located in the baffle 22 of the top cover 10 and the gap 224 is correspondingly defined in the baffle 22 of the bottom cover 20, since the top cover 10 has a similar configuration with the bottom cover 20. Furthermore, in another alternative embodiment, the arm 28 and the gap 224 are only defined in one side of the baffles 22 for providing an elastic retention with the storage peripheral equipment. Understandably, it is also practicable in this embodiment although the retention function therebetween is not as good as the embodiment above. The top cover 10 comprises a plurality of locking flakes 24 locating between the sidewalls 14 and the baffle 22 and protruding downwardly therefrom, as shown in FIG. 3. Each locking flake 24 has a length larger than that of the baffle 22. The bottom cover 20 defines a corresponding number of locking apertures 26 for snugly receiving the locking flakes 24 of the top cover 10, best shown in FIG. 4.

[0021] The PCB module 40 includes a printed circuit board 42 and an electrical connector 44 assembled thereto. The printed circuit board 42 defines a plurality of retaining holes 46 corresponding to posts (not labeled) of the top cover 10 provided for arranging and fastening the PCB module 40 in the receiving space 60 by a plurality of corresponding screws (not shown). The cable assembly 30 has a cable 31. The cable 31 has a retaining portion 32 connected to the printed circuit board 42 generally by soldering technology and extending beyond the front wall 16 of the case 1. The other end of the cable 31 connects a cable connector 34 for mating with a device connector mounted on a mother board of the notebook computer.

[0022] In assembly, the PCB module 40 is assembled in the receiving space 60 adjacent to the front wall 16. The shielding 50, generally fabricated from metal or other electrically conductive materials, is assembled on an inner surface of the flat board 12 of the top cover 10. The shielding 50 has a front wall 52 and a plurality of positioning legs 54 extending downwardly therefrom for supporting to the flat board 12 of bottom cover 20. The locking flakes 24, thereafter, are inserted in corresponding locking apertures 26. The top cover 10 and the bottom cover 20 are thus fastened with each other. The engaging portion 282 of the arm 28 of the bottom cover 20 is snugly received in the gap 224 of the top cover 10. The hemicycle orifices 160 of the top cover 10 and the bottom cover 20 inosculate to each other to provide a circular aperture (not labeled). The retaining portion 32 of the cable 31 extends through the circular aperture. The grooves 142 of the sidewalls 14 of the top cover 10 and the bottom cover 20 confront to each other and a receiving channel 126 is thus formed by the pair of grooves 142. Similarly, the recesses 120 of the top cover 10 and the bottom cover 20 confront to each other for providing a retaining cavity 128. The retaining cavity 128 has a transversal dimension larger than the receiving slot 126.

[0023] In use, the portable storage peripheral equipment is assembled into the receiving space 60 along the baffle 22 thereof. The arms 28 deform in a first position by interfering with sidewalls of the portable storage peripheral equipment for allowing the portable storage peripheral equipment easily assemble into the receiving space 60. Subsequently, when the portable storage peripheral equipment is completely received in the receiving space 60 of the case 1, the arms 28 resume to original position and elastically engage with the portable storage peripheral equipment with each projection 284 therefore interfering with the outer surface of the sidewalls of the portable storage peripheral equipment. Furthermore, because the engaging portion 284 of the arm 28 extends upwardly beyond the baffle 22 and defines a first, and a second slits 280 at both sides thereof, the engaging portion 282 has a good elasticity for providing a retention therebetween. Correspondingly, the portable storage peripheral equipment is accurately and reliably retained in the receiving space 60 of the case 1. A complementary connector mounted on a front portion of the portable storage peripheral equipment nicely mates with the electrical connector 44 of the PCB module 40 therein. The cable 31 extends out of the case 1 and the cable connector 34 mates with a device connector of the computer. The signal transmission and conversion between the portable storage peripheral equipment and the computer is thus accomplished by the PCB module 40 and the cable assembly 30.

[0024] It should be appreciated that in the preferred embodiment above the arm 28 elastically engaging with the portable storage peripheral equipment integrally connects with the baffle 22. However, in alternative embodiment, one of the covers 10 (20) defines a baffle 22 extending downwardly/upwardly to another cover 20 (10). The baffle 22 defines a gap 224 therein. Another cover 20 (10) defines an arm 28 extending therefrom for being received in the gap 224. Understandably, the baffle 22 is not necessary for the cover 20 (10) having an arm 28 in the alternative embodiment. In other words, the arms 28 and the baffle 22 are respectively defined two covers 10, 20 for elastically engaging with the outer sidewalls of the portable storage peripheral equipment and providing an accurate retention therebetween.

[0025] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A case for portable storage peripheral equipment comprising a case body consisting of a first and a second covers and defining a receiving space therein for receiving a portable storage peripheral equipment, the first cover having an arm formed adjacent to a boundary of the cover, the arm having an engaging portion at a free end thereof and extending into the receiving space for elastically engaging with the portable storage peripheral equipment.
 2. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engaging portion has a projection projecting inwardly to the receiving space for interfering with outer sidewalls of the portable storage peripheral equipment.
 3. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and the second covers each comprises a pair of elongate baffles adjacent a pair of sidewalls of the case and extending parallel to corresponding sidewalls of the case.
 4. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as claimed in claim 3, wherein each baffle defines a guiding portion at a front end thereof and inclining towards the sidewall.
 5. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the arm integrally extends from the baffle of the cover and locates between the baffle and the guiding portion, the arm has a connection portion connecting the engaging portion and the baffle and the connection portion having a same height as that of the baffle.
 6. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the baffle of the second cover defines a gap corresponding to the engaging portion of the first cover nicely receiving the engaging portion of the arm of the first cover therein.
 7. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and second covers are a top and a bottom cover, the arm extends upwardly from the baffle of the bottom cover, and the gap is defined in the baffle of the top cover.
 8. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as claimed in claim 5, wherein a first slit is defined between the arm and the guiding portion and a second slit is defined between the baffle and the arm for providing flexibility when the portable storage peripheral equipment is assembled in the case.
 9. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the arm deform in a first position by interfering with sidewalls of the portable storage peripheral equipment for allowing the portable storage peripheral equipment easily assemble into the receiving space and subsequently the arm resume to original position and elastically engage with the portable storage peripheral equipment with each projection therefore interfering with the outer surface of the sidewalls of the portable storage peripheral equipment when the portable storage peripheral equipment is completely received in the receiving space of the case.
 10. A case for portable storage peripheral equipment comprising: a first cover having a first sidewall and an arm extending parallel to the first sidewall and adjacent to the first sidewall; and a second cover opposite to the first cover, and having a second sidewall corresponding to the first sidewall; wherein the first cover and the second cover are cooperated with each other to form a case body, the first cover and the second cover together defining a receiving space therebetween for receiving the portable storage peripheral equipment therein, the arm of the first cover extending into the receiving space for engaging with sidewalls of the portable storage peripheral equipment.
 11. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as clamed in claim 10, wherein the arm has an engaging portion at a free end thereof for engaging with the sidewalls of the portable storage peripheral equipment.
 12. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first cover and the second cover each defines a pair of elongate baffles parallel to corresponding sidewalls of the first cover, the arm integrally extending from the baffle of the first cover.
 13. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as claimed in claim 12, wherein the baffle of the second cover defines a gap corresponding to the engaging portion of the arm of the first cover, the engaging portion of the arm of the first cover nicely received in the gap.
 14. The case for portable storage peripheral equipment as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first cover forms a plurality of locking flakes protruding upwardly therefrom, the second cover defines a corresponding number of locking apertures snugly receiving the locking flakes therein to fasten the first cover and the second cover together.
 15. A portable storage peripheral equipment comprising: a case body with a flat type box defining lengthwise and lateral directions perpendicular to each other, with a less height extending in a vertical direction perpendicular to both said lengthwise and lateral directions; an opening formed along a portion of a periphery of said box in the lateral direction; and in an interior of said box and adjacent to said opening, a pair of guiding portions being formed by at lateral ends, and a pair of resilient engaging arms closely respectively located behind and aligned with said pair of guiding portions in said lengthwise direction. 